I just got an email tonight from my friend, Tim. This was my last little hurrah with some of my MBA friends before we all took off. I miss them a lot. And I miss the delicious tacos at Diego’s. Can’t wait for Christmas to get back to P-town for a little bit…and the next time I get to see my MBA friends. The ones that don’t live here, that is.
A couple of weeks ago, the women from my MBA program who are now in New York (students and spouses alike) got together for a little girl time. We met up at Serendipity3 (just fyi…there is no 1 or 2, just 3) for dinner and dessert. They are famous for their frozen hot chocolate which almost everyone ordered…except for me and AnnMarie, who gorged ourselves on a delicious sundae.
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| “Oh, nothing. Just stuffing my face.” |
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| Kind of love Anne’s peace sign |
There are several things that make moving to New York challenging. First is the utter lack of available and affordable space. Second is the cost. And then there’s the overall dirtiness of the city (if anyone ever tries to tell you that New York is not a filthy city, just know that he/she is lying or has just become totally desensitized). The rats in the subway…and on the street late at night on garbage days. The multiple and various little bugs that might infest your apartment, or as was discovered this week, the movie theater. Being constantly late or early because subways tend to run on their own schedules.
Really, I could keep going.
The interesting thing is, though, that you just get used to those things. I know that might sound odd, but it’s true. You learn how to be adaptable.
But there are some great things about the inconveniences of living in New York. And one of those, for me, is laundry. Yes, the household chore that I hate most in this world (closely followed by unloading the dishwasher). At my price point for rent, there was no way I was going to find an apartment with a washer and dryer in the actual unit. Not only that, but my fabulous apartment happens to be in a building that doesn’t have a washer and dryer in it at all. Which means my options are hauling my laundry to a laundromat (the closest one being two blocks away), or taking it to the little wash and fold right next to my building for a little bit more money. I’m sure you all know which option I have chosen.
Are they the best laundry people ever? No. The place I took my stuff last summer was much better. But once I realized that I would have to separate my lights and darks and take them in separately (a hard learned lesson) it got much better. I drop it off in the morning and when I pick it up in the evening, it is in this lovely folded, plastic wrapped bundle that makes me so happy.
And because it is all folded and I now have places for all of my clothes (have I mentioned the wardrobe clean-out that I had to do both before and after I arrived in New York?), I put it away as soon as I undo the bundle so as not to have to fold it myself later.
It will be a sad day when I move back to somewhere that requires me to do laundry again. Or even once I can afford to live in a place that has a washer and dryer making me feel like I should do my own laundry. But for now, I will just enjoy this little perk that helps to counter all the aforementioned things that make living in the city a little rough.
P.S. Don’t get me wrong…I LOVE this city and hope to be here for a long time. I just want people to realize it’s not all glitz and glam.
Moving to New York has been an amazing adventure; adjusting to city life and a city budget, trying to figure out where I fit in this oh-so-big city, and making new friends. I have to admit that it has been much less painless than I anticipated it would be.
One of the things that has helped with the transition is that I LOVE my job. I mean…LOVE IT! And, if you’ve ever read any research on job satisfaction, you will know that a big part of it has to do with the people with whom one works. I LOVE my team. I landed with a great boss and a fantastic group. They like to have a good time…and hear is the evidence.
The end of my first week of work just happened to be the date my boss had set for a summer outing to his home on Long Island. This is pretty much what we did on Friday and I have to say that it was a great way to end my first week. I got to meet the broader team and really get to know people. I learned how to play some drinking games (yes, the Mormon girl had never played any before, so this was a new experience for me…I used water…hello). And I realized, while riding the train back to the city, just how lucky I am to be in such a great situation professionally.
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| Refilling the cups |
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| and it begins |
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| A little pong in actions |
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| just me, the summer intern, and our boss |
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| heading back to the city…all looking slightly thrashed |
Having grown up in California, the beach was often part of my summer adventures. I come from a family that is part fish (I swear) and one of the things I wanted to make sure I did this summer was make it to the beach.
My adventures in New York last summer only got me to Coney Island, which is not a place I really want to go swimming (for my NorCal friends, think Santa Cruz Boardwalk in the 90s on steroids). So, when AnnMarie invited me to join her and her friends for a day at the beach a couple of weeks ago, I of course jumped at the chance.
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I met the group at Penn Station (I seriously thought I was going to miss the train) and we took the 40 minute ride to the oceanside town. What I didn’t realize before buying my train ticket is that the beaches in New York cost money…and it would have cost less had I purchased a “package” ticket. I didn’t, though, so thankfully I had the $12 entrance fee. The nice thing about the fee is it keeps the beaches pretty clean.
I had so much fun. The water was a little cold, but not when you compare it to NorCal. And there’s no kelp…which means no bugs. It was amazing! Had I only though to reapply sunblock multiple times, I could have gone again the next weekend, but I forgot how different the sun is when you are playing in the ocean. I just finished peeling. Just.
existential dilemmas 